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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump did shake Merkel's hand - twice. Just not in the Oval Office.
Was the Oval Office scene weird & was he rude? Yeah. But he did shake her hand - twice. There's a slider of images at the link with a photo of each of the handshakes.
snip...
Trump and Merkel shook hands when she arrived at the White House but did not do so in the Oval Office where she frequently leaned towards him while he stared straight ahead, sitting with his legs apart and hands together. In the Oval Office both leaders described their meeting in brief remarks to reporters as having been very good.
She began her remarks at the news conference by saying it was better to speak to each other than about each other.
"We held a conversation where we were trying to address also those areas where we disagree, but we tried to bring people together ... (and) tried to find a compromise that is good for both sides," Merkel said.
They shook hands again at the end of the press conference and then exited the East Room together.
elleng
(130,153 posts)Bad p.r. for failing to do so in the Oval Office, but there's enough to complain about.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)I'd vote for the latter, since he's that clueless.
I think people attribute more cleverness and cunning to him than he actually has. He blunders into things.
bigtree
(85,918 posts)twitter.com/cameronesposito/status/843112636069830656
CrispyQ
(36,226 posts)bigtree
(85,918 posts)...whether he'd shaken her hand before is nice, but it doesn't address the point that he was asked to and ignored the opportunity.
I suppose he could use the excuse that he'd shaken her hand already, but it sounds just as churlish.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Angela Merkel was SNUBBED by a pouting sexist Trump.
Also... is it my imagination, or are their chairs about 8" further apart for Merkel and Trump? The chairs seem slightly closer for everyone else.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Fuck this excuse making!
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,188 posts)Who's doing that?
Everything I've seen has been focused on the weird behavior at the Oval Office photo call (and the earlier handshakes have been mentioned, in those threads on DU, at least).
demmiblue
(36,751 posts)It was incredibly insulting and disrespectful.
BannonsLiver
(16,162 posts)I've decided to experiment with denying facts, like Trumpers do. In fact I've recently been telling people trumpcare won't cover pre-existing conditions, even though that's apparently not true. Maybe. Perhaps. Who really knows?
bigtree
(85,918 posts)...it's what most people will take from that encounter, and it's an accurate portrayal of the relationship, outside of all of the niceties.
oasis
(49,151 posts)other than his backwoods hero, Andrew Jackson. But at least Jackson wouldn't have sat there with a sappy look on his face.
ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)Looks like it hurt, though!
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Theresa May was a subservient woman so he treated her respectfully.
Angela Merkel was not a subservient woman so he treated her disrespectfully.
If you cannot see the utter misogyny inherent in that I truly do not know what to tell you.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,188 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,188 posts)Though, female or not, any Prime Minister the UK sent over there right now would have had to grovel abjectly before The Donald, since our wonderful government have all their hopes pinned on a post-Brexit trade deal with the bastard, as they're busy burning bridges elsewhere. (Excuse me while I go somewhere isolated and have a little scream ...)